Testers Announced: Graphite Design Tour AD Shafts

[William P]

Great intros to kick it off @WaffleHouseTour, @pete1276, @GolfSpy_BNG! Looking forward to how the shafts perform for you.

[DukeStKing]

1 hour ago, t2490jh said:

 

 

This will be interesting to hear everyone's results.   I just went through this process myself in the last month.  My previous shaft was the Mitsubishi AV White 65 X-stiff.  I liked the shaft but it my dispersion to where I was aiming was off.   I also had a Callaway 3D Rogue LS head 9.5 lofted to 11.5.  I had a chance to buy a GD Tour AD HD shaft 65 is stiff at a very good price.  All I can say is wow.  So smooth and accurate.  Even my lousy shots in in the fairway.  I've only played with it twice buy now I'm down to 9 degrees (standard loft) and getting at least 10 more yards.    What I really like about the shaft is that I can tell where the head is at or if I'm late to my swing.

Then I tried to see if I wanted a GD tour AD fairway shaft for a 3-wood.   I went to PXG to test the Black Ops 3-wood.  I tested the CQ, VR, TP, UB, VF and XC shafts (all in 60-gram territory).    Long story short is I didn't like the black ops 3 wood.  What I can say is that the differences between the GD shafts are noticeably different but small if that makes sense.  Their number system and description are dead on.   I tested the VF shaft along with Ventus Black (which I had in a previous driver set up).  The VF was too much shaft for me, but it is so smooth.  If you have the proper swing speed, this shaft is a direct competitor to VB.  

I didn't like the CQ, VR, UB, or XC.  All went left for me, no curve but just left.  I liked the TP.  Anti-left all center to right of center.  The TP and HD are very similar.  However, the TP tip is stiffer which is quite noticeable.  I ended up with the HD fairway shaft is 60 grams in a Ping G430 head.  This combination is extremely forgiving and accurate.  

All I can say is that I had wished I had joined the GD family quite some time ago.

 

 

GD 

 

That’s the beauty of the GD shafts- the variety. Before the UB, I had also tried the TP and the HD- but both of those in 50 grams. The lighter weight may have been a mistake, but having the chance to try so many varieties is a dream come true for a gear head like me. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

9 hours ago, t2490jh said:

 

 

This will be interesting to hear everyone's results.   I just went through this process myself in the last month.  My previous shaft was the Mitsubishi AV White 65 X-stiff.  I liked the shaft but it my dispersion to where I was aiming was off.   I also had a Callaway 3D Rogue LS head 9.5 lofted to 11.5.  I had a chance to buy a GD Tour AD HD shaft 65 is stiff at a very good price.  All I can say is wow.  So smooth and accurate.  Even my lousy shots in in the fairway.  I've only played with it twice buy now I'm down to 9 degrees (standard loft) and getting at least 10 more yards.    What I really like about the shaft is that I can tell where the head is at or if I'm late to my swing.

Then I tried to see if I wanted a GD tour AD fairway shaft for a 3-wood.   I went to PXG to test the Black Ops 3-wood.  I tested the CQ, VR, TP, UB, VF and XC shafts (all in 60-gram territory).    Long story short is I didn't like the black ops 3 wood.  What I can say is that the differences between the GD shafts are noticeably different but small if that makes sense.  Their number system and description are dead on.   I tested the VF shaft along with Ventus Black (which I had in a previous driver set up).  The VF was too much shaft for me, but it is so smooth.  If you have the proper swing speed, this shaft is a direct competitor to VB.  

I didn't like the CQ, VR, UB, or XC.  All went left for me, no curve but just left.  I liked the TP.  Anti-left all center to right of center.  The TP and HD are very similar.  However, the TP tip is stiffer which is quite noticeable.  I ended up with the HD fairway shaft is 60 grams in a Ping G430 head.  This combination is extremely forgiving and accurate.  

All I can say is that I had wished I had joined the GD family quite some time ago.

 

 

GD 

 

 

7 hours ago, DukeStKing said:

That’s the beauty of the GD shafts- the variety. Before the UB, I had also tried the TP and the HD- but both of those in 50 grams. The lighter weight may have been a mistake, but having the chance to try so many varieties is a dream come true for a gear head like me. 

I think that’s the thing with Graphite Design. They were smart about it.  They took their wildly popular Tour AD DI and expanded the line by making subtle tweaks to it, then more subtle tweaks to those shafts.  
 

I have played quite a few GD shafts over the years and they have all been great feeling with the exception of a bad fit DI. Wanted to try it and found one on eBay cheap. Ended up being a 6S tipped in a tour edge exotics e8 that felt like a telephone pole.  Too stiff and a light weight head didn’t help.  My swing has changed considerably since then and I may grab a DI again to add to the review. 

[DukeStKing]

Just posted my Intro. 

Happy Birthday America!

 

[William P]

2 hours ago, DukeStKing said:

Just posted my Intro. 

Happy Birthday America!

 

Nice intro. looking forward to your results.

[DukeStKing]

8 minutes ago, William P said:

Nice intro. looking forward to your results.

Thank you!

 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Shipping notices have been sent out.  Who is gonna get the shaft first?  Will someone receive it before their intro is up?  Inquiring minds wanna know!

[TJ Hall]

Awesome to see these are on the way!  Looking forward to following along with this one! 

[Josh Parker]

9 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

Shipping notices have been sent out.  Who is gonna get the shaft first?  Will someone receive it before their intro is up?  Inquiring minds wanna know!

How much variance in shaft selection between the testers?

[GolfSpy_BNG]

2 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

How much variance in shaft selection between the testers?

I don’t wanna spoil it but I believe across 8 testers we have 6 different shafts

[KC Golf]

3 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

How much variance in shaft selection between the testers?

Hopefully a few testers picked the VF. I assume everyone just got Driver shafts but a FW shaft would be cool too!

[GolfSpy_BNG]

2 minutes ago, KC Golf said:

Hopefully a few testers picked the VF. I assume everyone just got Driver shafts but a FW shaft would be cool too!

I already spoiled that one. I’m the VF guy and everyone got driver shafts 

[Josh Parker]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

I don’t wanna spoil it but I believe across 8 testers we have 6 different shafts

That's great!  Should be some great data coming!  

[KC Golf]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

I already spoiled that one. I’m the VF guy and everyone got driver shafts 

I have always wanted to try rhe VF. Can’t wait to hear more about how it works for you!  

Just picking 1 shaft is hard with GD since there are so many awesome shaft offerings.   I would have a hard time deciding…. It’s a hard choice. Last time I got fitted for GD I was very close between a UB and the DI. 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

3 minutes ago, KC Golf said:

I have always wanted to try rhe VF. Can’t wait to hear more about how it works for you!  

Just picking 1 shaft is hard with GD since there are so many awesome shaft offerings.   I would have a hard time deciding…. It’s a hard choice. Last time I got fitted for GD I was very close between a UB and the DI. 

Well you are in luck as I have played a good chunk of them. Off the top of my head DI, BB, XC, UB, YS, MT, IZ, DJ(fairway), M9003, and also had some swings with the VF this winter for about a minute before selling. 

[pete1276]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

Shipping notices have been sent out.  Who is gonna get the shaft first?  Will someone receive it before their intro is up?  Inquiring minds wanna know!

I just got my notice today, hoping it gets here soon!

[Fongle]

Great intros so far guys, can't wait to see how they work out for you all

[Alan Stewart]

My Intro has been posted as well. 

Please feel free to ridicule my Arccos stats or my shameless use of the MGS bag tag to prop up my current gamer.

I picked the UB 6S so I hope I can supply some info for you, GolfSpy BOS.

On 7/2/2024 at 3:33 PM, GolfSpy BOS said:

Looking forward to following along here... particularly interested in any UB reviews as those have popped up on my radar more than once, but I haven't tried one.

 

Enjoy the testing! 

 

[Alan Stewart]

I got my tracking email today and my expected arrival date is 7/11.  Woot! Woot!

I have plans with my shop to get it prepped and ready to go as soon as it arrives.

16 hours ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

Shipping notices have been sent out.  Who is gonna get the shaft first?  Will someone receive it before their intro is up?  Inquiring minds wanna know!

 

[William P]

2 hours ago, Alan Stewart said:

My Intro has been posted as well. 

Please feel free to ridicule my Arccos stats or my shameless use of the MGS bag tag to prop up my current gamer.

I picked the UB 6S so I hope I can supply some info for you, GolfSpy BOS.

 

Nice intro Allan.

[pete1276]

5 hours ago, Alan Stewart said:

I got my tracking email today and my expected arrival date is 7/11.  Woot! Woot!

I have plans with my shop to get it prepped and ready to go as soon as it arrives.

 

I'm right there with you, Alan. Mine's scheduled for Tuesday and I've got my fitter on standby. He's out on vacation the week after, so I'm really glad it'll be here before he leaves.

[DukeStKing]

Mine’s coming Tuesday too-  I may be able to get a round in with it on Wednesday.  

[Harry Pearson]

Congratulations to all selected testers. Very keenly, I’ve been following the Auto Flex testers to see if this technology was worth paying for. For me, I would need to gain at the very least, 10yds consistently. I’ll definitely be paying attention and looking forward to your posts.